The Editorial ‘Draining resources’ published in Nature Cell Biology1 deserves comment. I too share your concerns regarding the ‘brain drain’ from UK, but I should add that there is a similar drain from Europe, a fact mentioned in a report by Levin and Stephan2. They have shown that in 1980, 18.3% of postgraduate scientists in the US were non-US-born, but by 1990 this figure had risen to 24.7%. Also, from 1980 to 1990, more non-US-born or non-US-educated scientists were elected as members of the National Academy of Science, and significantly more citations, patents and founded biotechnology companies were from non-US-born or non-US-educated life scientists. Thus, a large proportion of individuals, making exceptional contributions to science in the US, are drawn from abroad and in particular from the European Community.

As a European, I am happy that European countries prepare people to make valuable contributions to science. Yet I realize and regret that Europe continues to lose these scientists to the US. Scientific institutions should therefore make it their priority to intensify research investment and to entice young scientists to remain in Europe. In the US, although they have benefited from the educational investments made by other countries, the effect on US-born scientists must be detrimental. I feel that reversing the poor public perception of science in Europe is crucial in stopping this brain drain, otherwise in a couple of generations much of the structure of European education and science may be lost.